No. 10 Oregon entered Sunday’s game at No. 20 Colorado as one of the nation’s best offensive teams, averaging more than 89 points per game and shooting better than 50% from the field. With options such as Damyean Dotson, Joseph Young and Mike Moser (just to name three) at Dana Altman’s disposal, the Ducks have proven to be an incredibly difficult team to slow down.

The Ducks may not have shot as well as they’re accustomed to, making 42% of their field goals in the 100-91 loss in Boulder, but the biggest issue for Oregon was a simple one: they couldn’t get stops.

Just a few days removed from shooting 38% in their Pac-12 opener on Thursday night, Colorado shot 56% from the field and attempted 39 free throws (making 33) on Sunday afternoon. With Askia Booker (27 points, four assists) and Spencer Dinwiddie (23 points, seven assists) attacking from the perimeter and Josh Scott (15 points, 12 rebounds) inside, Colorado posted a season-best efficiency of 134.0 against Oregon. Prior to Sunday the worst performance from Oregon in this regard came in their 115-105 overtime win at Ole Miss, with the Rebels finishing the game with an offensive efficiency of 116.7 (efficiency numbers per statsheet.com).

It’s great to be able to rack up points, and Colorado certainly deserves credit for its performance, but more times than not the difference between being a “contender” and a “champion” is the ability to get stops. Oregon was unable to do so in Boulder, and the end result was their first loss of the season.

However, for as poorly as the Ducks defended on Sunday one positive to take from the defeat is the fact that Mike Moser snapped out of his two-game slump. Through 13 games at Oregon Moser’s approached the numbers he put up in his first season at UNLV (2011-12), averaging 13.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and on Sunday he was their most productive player.

Moser accounted for 24 points and seven rebounds on the night, shooting 9-for-15 from the field and posing matchup problems for much of the game. After a two-game stretch in which he scored a total of nine points while shooting 4-for-12 from the field, Moser was aggressive in looking for his shots from all over the court against Colorado. Damyean Dotson and Joseph Young added 16 points apiece for the Ducks, who will need Moser to remain aggressive offensively if they’re to be at their best on that end.

Oregon’s going to be fine despite losing; they’re 13-1 on the season and the Ducks certainly have the pieces needed to win the Pac-12. If anything, Sunday’s result served as a reminder of what steps they’ll need to take defensively in order to make good on that potential.